Restore Accidentally Deleted Apps on iPhone & iPad

Did one of your favorite apps get deleted from an iPhone or iPad? We’ll show how to restore a deleted app in iOS, whether it was removed accidentally or intentionally. Many users don’t know this, but iOS apps can be restored and re-downloaded easily at any time, which means it’s no big deal if an app or two was accidentally deleted.

We’ll cover two easy ways to restore any deleted app on an iPad or iPhone, either of these work and they’re quite easy, you can search by app name if you know the app, or look through your download list to find the missing app that way. This is a great trick for everyone, but should be particularly helpful for parents and educators, when it’s pretty common for a kid to have deleted an app or two by accident. So, don’t freak out if you or someone you know accidentally deleted an app from an iOS device, because you’ll have those apps restored to the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in no time. Let’s get right to it and get those deleted apps back!

How to Restore Accidentally Deleted Apps in iOS by Name Search

Know the name of the app that was deleted and you want to restore? This is the way to go then:

Open the “App Store” application and use the ‘search’ box to find the name of the app that was deleted (for example, if Angry Birds was deleted, search for ‘Angry Birds”)

Locate the matching result through the results carousel, if there are several matches you can always to get more information about the found app by tapping on it

Choose the little cloud download icon to start the app restore process – tapping on it will start the download again, you may need to confirm the Apple ID login in this process

Here’s an example where restoring the Angry Birds app after it was deleted, note it’s the Star Wars version that was removed and thus you must find the exact name match from the search list – easy enough.

Many apps also store data in iCloud so restoring them through the App Store like this will also usually restore their accompanying data – unless it was specifically removed when the app was deleted. That can also apply for games and Game Center scores, again, unless it was specifically removed as well when the app was deleted.

How to Restore Deleted Apps in iOS Through a Purchased List

Not sure which app was deleted, or maybe a bunch of apps were deleted? This is how you can see a list of all the apps that were downloaded to the iPhone or iPad, making it simple to restore what’s missing:

Open “App Store” and choose “Updates” followed by going to the “Purchased” section at the bottom of the screen

Tap on the “Not On This iPad” tab at top (or “Not On This iPhone”)

Find the accidentally deleted app in the list and tap the cloud arrow icon to redownload the app, enter Apple ID password when requested

Note: the iPad can go directly to ‘Updates’, whereas the iPhone and iPod touch needs to tap the “Updates” button and then “Purchased” the difference here is due to the screen sizes of the devices. On the iPad, things look a bit different simply because there is more screen real estate available to display buttons.

The process is identical in all versions of iOS, though it looks slightly different (as well as the entire user interface for that matter) from the older versions of iOS to the most modern versions. Here’s what it looks like on a prior release before the major redesign:

Whichever method you choose, the app will redownload and reinstall itself. You will not be charged for redownloading apps that you already own as long as the Apple ID is the same that was used to buy it in the first place. If you see a price tag rather than the download cloud button, that’s usually a good indicator that you’re not using the same Apple ID, and if you see a price listed on the app name you would be charged.

Worth mentioning is that iOS apps alone are not the only thing that can be recovered and redownloaded easily. This easy restore method will also work with iTunes Store purchases like music, movies, and TV shows, and on the desktop side of things, apps that were acquired through the Mac App Store as well.

Note: you must be using the same Apple ID to redownload the app without getting charged again. Of course, free apps are always free to download, but you won’t find them in your app history which is what this trick relies on.

I’ve accidently deleted my most fav app… The secret photolocker and gallery vault.. I want them back.. I tried to get thm back by installing many types of app like aapstore … Such a stupid apps… I want an app seems to be true.. And may get thm back…

I have lost my notepad in which all my personal data, information, dates, id now, secret pin for all important login are recorded, can anyone help in recovering
all missing records. They are deleted when
performing Factory reset.

I’ve just realised the secret calculator App I had on my iPhone 5c has disappeared. I can only think it disappeared when I did a factory reset about 6 weeks ago? Everything else is there, but this one App. How do I retrieve the photos back that were in this? I’ve retrieved the App, but, it’s empty? Please help!

Somehow my I phone phone appointment ( the green icon w the telephone receiver) has been deleted. How do I get that back. I can’t find it in the appointment store but I do find it under Siri. I can open under Siri but I can’t transfer it back to my main screen. Help!!

that’s one of the default apps that came with the factory setting on the iPhones right? I don’t think there is a way to redownload it as they also come in a packaged deal and not individual apps. (Numbers, Pages, iTunes, iCloud, App Store, Notes, Calendar, etc). you have the option to delete individual default apps easily, but to reinstall it I had to restore the phone from factory setting again. I rarely use the default Apps myself but created a Default App folder for the ones I don’t use in case to avoid complete factory reset just in case.

i am not an android user but when i tried out Galaxy to see the difference vs. iOS. i was also having issues with Open Play Store and wasn’t able to load any money onto that account or purchase apps. I also don’t like how you can have multiple user accounts on the same device it doesn’t make me feel secure regarding privacy since the device was getting my friend’s new email notification when they added their account onto my phone for games. it depends on what you got use to first. For me I had my iPhone first then 2 years later I had the Mac than i added the iPad so now everything is Apple for me.

My daughter deleted by accident game app. Can she retrieve it without loosing game data files like her levels, gems, coins and whatever else they have there? Thanks for any help, it is very serious situation here 😬😬

I just got an new iphone and i accidently deleted icloud not realizing the find my phone app went also. the icloud icon is there asking me to create a new apple id. I put my old one in with pass won’t take no longer available. so I us my other account one and said it’s not valid ? which it is. so what do i do to recover step by step please am new to this stuff thank you in advance

I’m trying to recover things from the internet that I put on my home screen with the button that allows u to do that. I can’t find them anywhere! Help! This is my first I phone and I so miss my android😒

I had the same issue as Kathy! I go thru the directions bit as soon as I hit the cloud icon it flashes to the downloading icon then instantly right back to the cloud icon.ive tried over & OveR with no luck.someone plz help me!

I had a couple of apps that were not working properly, so I deleted them. Now they won’t reload. I find the little cloud with the down arrow, and tap it; the download circle appears briefly, then the cloud returns, and nothing downloads.

I’ve signed out of my app store account and signed back in. Doesn’t change anything.

I’ve reset my iPhone; that didn’t change anything, either. These are apps I depend on, and I really need them back on my phone. What do I do now?

my iphone and ipad takes a while to re-download or update certain apps. I had to delete and re-install Netflix like 4 times and sometimes it would take the whole day and don’t download at all (not a internet connection issue). For some apps you just have to keep trying and one of those time it will download properly. Old data that was under the deleted app might not retain depending on where you saved those files (locally or over cloud account of app developer)

if you accidentally deleted all the apps (i dunno how to do that myself lol) your safest bet to recover everything is to wipe your device completely clean by doing a factory reset and reload it from your last iTunes sync backup file. Hopefully no additional iTunes or iCloud synching occured AFTER the accidental deletion and by restoring with the latest backup file. you should also be able to regain/retrieve the files you saved under each app.

I’m actually having a problem with apps that were seemingly deleted when I let my daughter use my phone (I cannot find them on the phone anywhere), including the APPS app. When I do a “search” of them, I can open them from the search function, but am still unable to locate them from an “app” button

When I go the APPS app to download them again (again, opening from the search function) it shows them already downloaded???

These instructions do not work for me. My wife uses the NY Times app on her iPhone5. Due to problems with her iTunes account (since resolved), the Apple phone operator told her to eliminate all non-Apple apps, including the NYT, which she did. Now that the iTunes issue is resolved, we tried to reinstall her NYT app from the Apple store. Of course, we found the NYT app easy enough, but there is no cloud or buy option displayed. I clicked on that space anyway, but all we get is an unclosed circle that continuously turns (not the updating wheel). We are having the same problem on all the non-Apple apps.

If there are too many problems with iTunes account (I had to create my 3rd one 2 years ago) Apple with permanently disable the old account and can restrict certain access on the new account (so no non-Apple apps). just send an email to support service and tell them to remove the restriction. It is not a hardware issue. They restricted in-app purchases for my account for a while until activities became stable again (there was a major fraud issue with my first account and was permanently disabled). I believe they have to do it on their end. I don’t believe users can set such restriction under Settings. (But there is the option to disable “in-app purchases” yourself on the iphone)

Why did you delete minecraft if you didn’t want to delete minecraft? Re-download Minecraft to restore it, it’s that simple. And who uses ALL CAPS to talk? With a million question marks? Get it together, Ashley, no wonder your parents deleted minecraft from your iPad.

Wooopsie Daisy please don’t be so judgmental. You could be talking to a 9 year old girl and just crushed her sense of self worth. If you were a mum you’d know how easy that is to do to a child. She didn’t swear or carry on like a turd. Kids are expressive and on a keyboard is no different. Sometimes apps auto-uninstall because of lack of space. You’re making assumptions that her parents deleted it and could create repercussions on her family life (even if she says nothing to them about it). Please be more considerate of others who are obviously younger. Not all expressive kids are turds. And by the way, my child just accidentally deleted Minecraft which is why I’m here trying to figure out how to reinstall it because the download cloud isn’t next to the app. It asks for the $10.99 again. Remember that life is rarely black and white, and it’s good to put yourself in another’s shoes once in a while.

Thank you! I deleted an app to get rid of the documents and increase storage space and intended to reinstall it from the app store, but it wasn’t there. It says no longer available in US. I was able to transfer it from a backup on my laptop.

A few apple apps disappeared from my phone (5C) like the camera button, weatherzone and others including the apple store and that is the reason I cannot recover them. I believe my nephew accidentally deleted them. Has this happened to anyone? How do I recover any app if I don’t even have the apple store????

I had to delete an app (Hot Schedukes) as it stopped syncing with my calendar. ‘Help’ mentioned to delete and reinstall, after other “fixes” failed. This is the second time in the past year I’ve had to delete the app. And again, just like last time, the app is charging for the reinstall. I paid again last time. But not again. Yes, I’m using the same Apple ID. I have had only one Apple ID ever so… What gives??

I am using an IPod 7.0 and deleted the old version of Words with Friends. The Words 2 isn’t able to be installed since you need 9.0 to run it. Is this similar to your situation ? and how did you re-install it as it is no longer in the app store. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

My daughter fiddled around with my pass code for iPhone. Afterwards it automatically reset and I lost all my apps and email settings which is done thru my corporate account. Is there any way I can restore my iPhone to the old settings including my contacts and all other apps? Pls help.

Hi I had the crush saga downloaded to my iPhone 5 & was addicted to it. I got to level 30 & it all of a sudden stopped loading, so I couldn’t play anymore. I delegate the app in an attempt to reinstall it. I went through the App Store where it didn’t have the free logo anymore but install instead. So I did. Again & again & again. The app installed each time but when I wanted to play the game it wouldn’t load. I went into not purchased on this phone & pressed the cloud & reinstalled it & it still appears as an app icon but opens says loading for a few seconds then flicks off back to just showing the icon. It is so frustrating, please can you help & tell me what I need to do. Thanks

hi there i am using iphone 3g, i was using viber on it since July 2012, somehow i accidentally deleted viber :( now am unable to re-install it .. its now saying to update ios 4.3 don’t why cause i used viber without updating to ios 4.3
please help me

Hi there. I accidentally deleted some apps on my iPhone 3G but when I go into the app store and into updates there is no button marked purchases to be able to follow the above advise. Can anyone help me find this please? Many thanks

I deleted an app then realised I did need it. It was a purchased one. When I follow the instructions above the app does not show in the not on this iPad button. When I find it in the purchased section the button is greed out and says installed. No cloud button for re-install. I can’t even buy it again as it is showing as installed.

[…] This is what you’d do if you want to reinstall an app you deleted to quickly free up some space on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod that has run out of storage capacity. Likewise, this is the same procedure to restore an app that was accidentally deleted. […]

Do you mean that if I delete Angry Birds and reinstall then all my stars and scores will be back? I will try this out. Where is my water has a separate option to store your progress in icloud, probably to sync between devices (at least Im using it to sync between ipad and ipod).

There are some apps which let users choose whether the app data is stored in the device itself or into the iCloud, say ‘SoundHound’. In ‘SoundHound’, there’s an option for you to choose to save history and bookmarks by using iCloud. I guess what ‘SoundHound’ does is that they let the user choose to store the app data up in the cloud. Now, let’s say you have an iPhone and an iPad, and both use the same Apple ID and have installed ‘SoundHound’. If you enable to use iCloud to save the tagged songs and bookmarks, no matter which device you use to tag the songs, the tag history and bookmarks will both appear on your iPhone and iPad (as you use the same Apple ID on both devices and the data is stored in the iCloud).

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